Raising the salary bar for some state workers

Updated 10:08 pm, Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Albany

The state's vast corps of managers and "confidential" employees are hoping to copy the way judges now get raises: via a special commission that could increase their salaries.

On Tuesday, members of the state Senate Finance Committee endorsed a bill that, if approved and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, would create a commission to study and, if needed, mandate regular pay raises for the more than 8,000 affected state employees.

In 2011, following more than a decade of inaction, a similar commission was set up for judges, who had gone without raises since 1999 — the same year that lawmakers saw their last increase.

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Management/confidential employees include supervisors and lower-level secretaries who serve in sensitive positions, meaning they often handle information such as personnel files. Such employees can be promoted from the rank-and-file workforce or appointed from outside.

Either way, "MCs" don't have union representation, making it easier for the state to hold off on raises. With the exception of a longevity increase in 2011, MCs have had no raises since 2008.

As a result, state offices "can end up having individuals supervising individuals who make more money," said Syracuse GOP Sen. John DeFrancisco, who chairs the Finance Committee and who sponsored the bill.

A similar proposal was floated by lawmakers during this year's budget talks, but it didn't end up in the final package. It remains to be seen how the governor would greet an MC pay raise commission if the bill passes in the Legislature.

A person in that job has remained at an $84,581 salary for several years. A comparable unionized worker — with different and often non-supervisory responsibilities — has seen his or her pay rise to $92,974 in the past several years. A confidential secretary, meanwhile, might earn $43,200 compared to $46,267 for a unionized counterpart.